Plated vs painted calipers

Nicad

Nicad

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Decisions... for those of you that have restored calipers through places like PBR, and caliper HQ, how long do you expect the plated finish to last? Assuming you are operating the car in the dry. I painted the Brembos on my Forester 7 years ago with a two stage Silver paint and it seems bullet proof,holding up to Salt and abuse. But there is great appeal in having things look correct and original, so other than crazy shipping costs between me and these two rebuilders, I probably would go that route. Tia
 
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USPS flat rate boxes…
Caliper HQ

If you go the yellow zinc or cadmium is best

White zinc or cerakote don’t look right.
 
My BMWs with either Silver or Yellow Zinc clean up easily with Simple Green & a soft brush. They do not experience road salt.

With plating the caliper is completely dismantled for plating the reassembled. Have to be triple sure the caliper are properly assembled & torqued. Have seen plated rebuilt caliper leak from the seams & have to be re-rebuilt.
 
sfdon said:
USPS flat rate boxes…
Caliper HQ

If you go the yellow zinc or cadmium is best

White zinc or cerakote don’t look right.
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Do you have a preference between Yellow Zinc and Cadmium Don?
 
I know that Cadmium plating is technically superior when it co.es to rust protection, but also highly carcinogenic.

I don't think any reputable country will allow companies to work with cadmium anymore. And for sure you don't want to do it either in your garage.

Yellow zinc is the best alternatieve for period correct looks.

When plating, the part can be connected to the Anode or the Cathode of the zinc production line. Cast Iron metals generally get better coating results when they are on one side (Cathode if I remember well) , where most shops run the other system: the to-be plated parts are the Anode.

I had my calipers coated, got mediocre results: it started to form white rust a month later already while on a shelf. So I shopped around to find one shop 50 miles away that did it the Cathodic way: the coating now has held for 7 years.....but still on a shelf.....
 
Just spoke with Juan at Caliper HQ. They will do mine in Cadmium. Answered all my questions and was very helpful. Other than shipping this is looking like an efficient way to go.
 
A set of 2 calipers will fit in a large flat rate priority box.. No weight restriction. This is the cheapest way to ship considering the weight
 
Nicad said:
When a Canadian wishes to ship a small Pillow to someone in Buffalo, it costs more than ordering a Vise from China.
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I can't believe we still haven't repealed the Stuffed & Upholstered Cushions Tariff Act of 1883. I would've thought NAFTA took care of that. I guess feathers are still a bit ruffled after the Great Eiderdown Incident of 1882 that occurred between Windsor and Detroit.
 
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